Improvement in propelling vessels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON GERHARD, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPELLING VESSELS..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,359, dated April 1, 1873; application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON GERHARD, of Camden, New Jersey, have invented a Propelling Device for Vessels, of which the following is a specification:

My invention has for its object the more effective propulsion of vessels through the wa ter than by the usual paddle-wheels or screws. This end I accomplish by the use of a propelling device, the nature of which will be best understood by reference to the perspective diagram, Figurel, in which A represents a shaft driven by an engine or engines, and on this shaft are two cranks, B and B, the pin a of the latter being connected to the long arm of the lever D, and the pin a of the crank B being. connected to the long arm of the lever D, the fulcrum of which is a pin, b, pr0jecting from a slide, E, adapted to horizontal guides F F, and the lever D having its ful crum on a pin, 1), projecting from a slide, E, adapted to guides F. The end of the short arm of each lever is provided with a pad dle, G. I

The above-described device may be situated in a space, .a.', Fig. 4, between twin boats, or on each side of a vessel, as circumstances may suggest.

The operation of the paddles on the water as the shaft A revolves will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, in which y represents the water line. In Fig. 2 the paddle of the lever D is elevated above the tinued action of the two paddles, operating.

alternately upon the water, will propel the vessel in the direction of the arrow 2 and by reversing the motion of the shaft the whole action will be reversed, and the vessel consequently propelled in a contrary direction.

I claim as my invention-- The arms D D having paddles at their outer ends and vibrating on pins 1) b, which slide horizontally, in combination with a double crank-shaft, A, situated between the two arms and connected directly thereto, so as to raise and lower the paddles alternately, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SOLOMON GERHABD.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH. 

